Apparatus for washing containers

ABSTRACT

The internal space of the apparatus is divided by means of a vertical partition wall into two longitudinally extending portions. These portions are divided by means of trays into stages which constitute treatment stations. A conveyor closed in space extends through all treatment stations and comprises a guide, carriages and driving mechanism. Said driving mechanism and the guide, along which the carriages with carriers for containers are moved, extend through all the treatment stations moving around the vertical partition wall in a horizontal plane and passing vertically from one stage into another.

United States Patent [1 1 Gudz et a1.

[ APPARATUS FOR WASHING CONTAINERS [76] Inventors: Nikolai MartynovichGudz, Ulitsa Srendyaya, 6; Eduard Kazimirovich Adutskevich, BulvorRokossorskogo 97, both of Minsk, USSR.

22 Filed: Jan. 4, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 215,349

[51] Int. Cl B08b 3/02, 80% 9/08 [58] Field of Search 134/60, 68, 70,72,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,196,131 4/1940 Todd 134/702,273,939 2/1942 Dammers 134/60 X 2,395,397 2/1946 Croft 134/60 X2,943,424 7/1960 Sadwith 134/72 June 19, 1973 2,966,914 l/1961 Sadwith134/68 3,056,414 10/1962 Nolte 134/60 3,583,544 6/1971 PrimaryExaminer--Robert L. Bleutge Attorney-Eric H. Waters, John G. Schwartzand .1. Harold Nissen ABSTRACT The internal space of the apparatus isdivided by means of a vertical partition wall into two longitudinallyextending portions. These portions are divided by means of trays intostages which constitute treatment stations. A conveyor closed in spaceextends through all treatment stations and comprises a guide, carriagesand driving mechanism. Said driving mechanism and the guide, along whichthe carriages with carriers for containers are moved, extend through allthe treatment stations moving around the vertical partition wall in ahorizontal plane and passing vertically from one stage into another.

9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Prodzenski 134/68 X Patented June 19, 19133339 790 8 Shasta-Sheet a FIE. 2

Patented June 8 shww snm 3 Patented June 19, l?

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Patented June 19,

8 Sheets-Shem. 5

Patonted June 19, 1973 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Pnhnbd June 19, 1973 8Shula-Sheet 7 Emma June 19', 1913 8 Sheets-Sheet a The present inventionrelates to apparatus for washing containers, such as trays, boxes, dippans and the like, to be used in meat, food and fish industry, in tradeand public catering, as well as in other fields of industry, wheremetallic, wooden and plastic containers are to be reused.

Known in the prior art are apparatus SB manufactured by a Swedishcompany F redriksons Verkstads AB Vadstena, comprising baths for adetergent liquid and circulating water accommodated in a housing, a pumpsystem for the detergent liquid and circulating water, a driven conveyorhaving carriers for containers, which is adapted to transfer containersthrough various treatment stations, one group of said stationscomprising injector means associated with the pump systems, and theother group accommodating air supply means.

The conveyor adapted to transfer the containers is made as a chainconveyor which is closed in a vertical plane, the upper run of saidconveyor being the working one.

The length of such prior-art apparatus is 12 m. This apparatus, however,does not provide for the performance of a number of technological stepsrequired for treating the containers: thus, containers cannot be treatedwith disinfectants and there is no additional rinsing of containers withfresh water, since provision for such operations would further increasethe overall dimensions of the apparatus.

The use of conveyors having one working run and one idle run in suchapparatus results in the fact that optimum conditions for thoroughwashing of containers can be achieved only when 12 to 20 m longconveyors are used, which 'is unacceptable for enterprises, wheresufficiently large working areas are not available.

Furthermore, such conveyors are combersome and require support framesresulting in increased dimensions and weight of the apparatus.

Since all treatment stations are arranged in one line, partition wallsmounted between the treatment stations do not prevent detergentsolutions from being mixed, resulting in disturbance of thetechnological conditions and in impairing of quality of washing;furthermore, there is no provision in these apparatus for fullutilization of hot water used for rinsing the containers, which resultsin an increased water and power consumption.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for washingcontainers which has small overall dimensions and performs the wholetechnological com-' plex of operations of hygienic treatment ofcontainers.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for washingcontainers which ensures the treatment of containers with difl'erentdegree of fouling and having various shapes and sizes.

With these and other objects in view, the apparatus for washingcontainers according to the invention comprises baths for a detergentliquid and circulating water accommodated in a housing, pump systems tosupply the detergent liquid and circulating water, a driven conveyorhaving carriers for containers, which is adapted to transfer thecontainers through treatment stations, one group of said stationscomprising injector means associated with the pump systems, and othergroup accommodating air supply means, wherein, according to theinvention, mounted within the housing is a vertical partition wall whichdivides the housing space into two longitudinally extending portions,each portion being divided into stages by trays, the lower traysaccommodating baths for the detergent liquid and for circulating water,as well as the pump systems, while the upper trays constitute treatmentstations, the conveyor, which is adapted to transfer containers,comprising a conveyor closed in space which is provided with a guide,driving means and carriages which support carriers for containers andare movable along the guide by means of said driving means, the guideand said driving means being arranged in such a manner that they passthrough all the treatment stations moving around the vertical partitionwall and vertically from one stage into another.

Therefore, the division of the apparatus into stages in which treatmentstations are arranged provides conditions for complete utilization ofthe whole space of the apparatus. This permits to perform the wholecomplex of technological operations of the containers treatment andsubstantially reduces the length of the apparatus. Furthermore, thedivision of the internal space of the apparatus into stages makes ispossible to ensure complete separation of all the treatment stations.

The use of the conveyor which is closed in space permits the transfer ofcontainers through all the treatment stations without any additionalmeans for transferring the containers from one treatment station toanother.

It is advantageous that each conveyor carriage comprise a bracket andfour pulleys having elongated hubs, the axes of said pulleys beingjournalled in the bracket, three pulleys, each having one collar rim andbeing arranged in one line, while the fourth pulley has two collar rimsand is spaced from the line of the three pulleys at a distance which isequal to the height of the guide, the intermediate pulley of said threepulleys having a hub diameter smaller than the corresponding diametersof the hubs of the two extreme pulleys, and mounted in such a mannerthat its collar rim runs along the inner side of the guide, while thecollar rims of the two extreme pulleys run along the outer side of theguide.

This embodiment of the carriage enables free move ment thereof along theguide having any radius of curvature in both horizontal and verticalplanes.

It is desirable that the collar rims running along the inner side of theguide taper towards their external edge, thereby preventing the carriagefrom being blocked while moving along arcuated portions of the guide.

It is advantageous that the carriage which receives the motion fromdriving means be connected to the latter by means of a driving arm,while the carrier for containers is advantageously connected to thecarriage by means of a pin extending through a hole in the driving armand attached to the carriage bracket.

It is advantageous that the carrier for containers comprise a cantilevercage, comprising an arm hingedly mounted on the carriage pin, and ahorizontal fork mounted on said arm which is adapted to accommo datecontainers, the branches of said fork supporting vertical rods andsupport rollers, while a guide roller is mounted on said arm at the endthereof opposite to the fork.

Therefore, this embodiment of the carrier for containers makes itpossible to accommodate containers of any size thereon and to transferthem in a horizontal plane through all the treatment stations.

In order to maintain the cage in a horizontal position during thetransition of the carriages from horizontal portions of the conveyorinto vertical ones, it is advantageous to provide at the points of thevertical transition of the carriages from one stage into another meansfor rotation of the cages in a horizontal plane, each comprising avertical plate attached to the vertical partition wall so that the loweredge of the plate extends below the level of the support rollers of thecage in its lowermost position, while the upper edge provided with ahorizontal guide member extends above the level of the support rollersof the cage in its uppermost position, the plate being cut by a verticalslot extended in its lower part by two horizontal slots extending at thelevels of the carriage pin and the support roller of the cage in itslowermost position respectively.

In order to unload the conveyor carriages and prolong the service lifeof the rollers, it is advantageous to provide at the treatment stationsadditional guides made of an antifriction material and adapted tosupport the cages during their movement in a horizontal plane.

In order to provide for the utilization of hot water, it is advantageousthat one of the trays have a socket pipe connected by means of a conduitto the bath for circulating water which is disposed in the immediatevicinity of the other bath for circulating water to enable theoverflowing of water from the first bath into the second one.

In order to ensure automatic removal of containers from the cages afterthe treatment, it is advantageous to provide container removal means atthe point of transition of the carriages with carriers for containersfrom the upper stage into the lower stage, said means comprising ahorizontal axis journalled in mounting brackets, and telescopic rodsmounted on said axis and movable therealong, said rods being spaced fromone another to pass the fork therebetween.

Therefore, the apparatus for washing containers according to theinvention which has a plurality of stages with treatment stationsthrough which the conveyor closed in space is driven permits completeutilization of the whole space of the apparatus, since the conveyoradapted to transfer containers does not have an idle run, therebyresulting in a reduction of the overall dimensions and weight of theapparatus. In this embodiment it is possible to use cantilever cages ascarriers for containers, said cages enabling accommodation of containershaving any shape and size and their transfer through all the treatmentstations without handling.

The invention will now be described with reference to the specificembodiment of the apparatus for washing containers and to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a general view of the apparatus according to the inventionwith the side wall of the housing being removed;

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a conveyor of the apparatus, closed in space;

FIG. 5 is a cross section of the conveyor carriage;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the carriage partly in section;

FIG. 7 is the conveyor carriage, elevation view;

FIG. 8 is a tensioning station of the conveyor;

FIG. 9 is a section along the line IX-IX in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a general view of the apparatus.

The apparatus for washing containers comprises a housing 1 (FIG. 1),which has the internal space divided by means of a vertical partitionwall 2 into two longitudinally extending portions A and B (FIG. 2). Eachlongitudinally extending portion is divided by means of trays 3 intostages 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. The upper stages 6, 7, 8 and 9 constitutetreatment stations; thus, soaking off of the containers is performed inthe stage 6, the stage 7 is provided for treatment of the containerswith a detergent solution, in the stage 8 the treatment of thecontainers with circulating water and rinsing thereof with fresh hotwater take place, while in the stage 9 the treatment of the containerswith steam, heated air and disinfectants is effected.

Appropriate injector means 10, 11 and 12 are installed in the stages 6,7 and 8 (FIG. 3), while in the stage 9 there are provided nozzles 13 forsteam supply, nozzles 14 for hot air supply and means for disinfectionof containers, such as electric radiant lamps 15. Said means may alsocomprise chemical means and steam, the use of each of these meansdepending on the type of a material of which containers are made and onthe degree of bacteriological contamination of the containers.

A closed in space conveyor 16 extends through all the treatment stationsarranged in the stages 6, 7, 8 and 9 (FIG. 4) which transfers thecontainers through all of said treatment stations by means of carriers17.

The lower stages 4 and 5 accommodate (FIG. 2) a frame 18 mounted onscrew supports 19 and supporting an electric drive 20 (FIG. 1) of theconveyor 16, a pump unit for secondary circulation water, a pump unit 22for circulation water, pump units 23 and 24 for a detergent liquid, abath 25 (FIG. 3) for secondary circulation water, a bath 26 forcirculation water and a bath 27 for a detergent liquid.

Pump units 21, 22, 23 and 24 are connected by means of conduits 28 tothe injector means 10, 11 and 12 respectively.

The conveyor 16 (FIG. 4) comprises driving means 29 made as around-linked chain with four degrees of freedom or a cable, carriages 30supporting carriers 17 for containers and a guide 31 along which thecarriages 30 are moved. The round-linked driving chain 29 (FIG. 2) andthe guide 31 are arranged in such a manner that they pass through allthe treatment stations accommodated in the stages 6, 7, 8 and 9 movingaround the vertical partition wall 2 in a horizontal plane and passingfrom the stage 6 into the stage 7, and from the latter vertically intothe stage 8, from the stage 8 into the stage 9 and from the lattervertically into the stage 6. Thus, the conveyor 16 (FIG. 4) has twohorizontal runs 32 and 33 disposed one above the other, each extendingthrough the two adjacent stages 6, 7 and 8, 9, and two vertical portions32a and 33a.

The driving chain 29 is moved by the electric drive 20 through avertically extending shaft 34 driven by a pair of bevel gears 35. Adriving sprocket 36 is rigidly fixed to the shaft 34, said sprocketconstantly engaging the chain 29, and a drum 37 having a guide collarrim 38 disposed at a level of the carrier 17 for containers is alsorigidly fixed on the shaft.

The sprocket 36 imparts the motion to the chain 29 in a horizontalplane, which moves around the vertical partition wall 2, the run 32 ofthe conveyor moving around a sprocket 36, while the run 33 is movingaround a pulley 39 mounted on the shaft of the driving station. Thedirection of movement of the chain 29 is indicated by arrows C.

In order to enable the transition of the chain 29 vertically from onestage into another, mounted on the vertical partition wall 2 are drivenpulleys 40, 41, 42 and 43 adapted to guide the chain passing from thehorizontal portions 32 and 33 into vertical portions 32a, 33a. Thesepulleys are disposed in a vertical plane which is parallel to thepartition wall 2.

The guide 31 (FIG. 5) is fixed to the partition wall 2 by means ofbrackets 44.

The carriage 30 (FIG. 4) of the conveyor 16 comprises a bracket 45 andfour pulleys 46, 47, 48 and 49 having elongated hubs 50 (FIG. 6). Theaxes of these pulleys are journalled in the bracket 45. The pulleys 46,47 and 48 have one collar rim to run along arcuated portions of theguide 31 and are arranged in one line (FIG. 7) to run along one side ofthe guide 31, while the pulley 49 (FIG. 5) has two collar rims and isspaced from the line of the pulleys 46, 47 and 48 at a distance which isequal to a height of the guide 31 to run along the other side of theguide 31. A diameter of the hub 50 of the pulley 47 is smaller than thatof the hubs of the pulleys 46 and 48 so that during the movement thecarriage 30 is supported on the guide 31 only by the two extreme pulleys46 and 48. In this case the collar rim 50 of the pulley 47 will runalong the inner side of the guide 31, while the collar rims 52 of thepulleys 46 and 48 will run along the outer side of the guide.

The collar rim 51 of the pulley 47 (FIG. 5) and the collar rim 53 of thepulley 49 are tapered towards the external edge thereof, therebyenabling free running of the carriage 50 along arcuated portions of theguide 31.

The axis of the pulley 49 is loaded by a spring 54 mounted on a thrustscrew 55, thereby providing constant urging of the pulley 49 against theguide 31.

The carriage 30 is connected to the driving chain 29 by means of adriving arm 56 having a hole 57, a pin 58, which is rigidly fixed to thebracket 45 of the carriage 30, extending through said hole.

The carrier 17 for containers is hingedly mounted on the free end of thepin 58, said carrier comprising a cantilever cage, including an arm 59(FIG. 4) hingedly mounted on the pin 58 of the carriage 30 and ahorizontal fork 60 mounted on the arm 59 and adapted to accommodatecontainers. The branches of the fork 60 support rods 61 adapted tomaintain side walls of containers and support rollers 62 whichconstitute additional support during the movement of the carriage 30along the vertical portions 32a and 33a from one stage into another. Aguide roller 63 is mounted on the arm 59 at the end thereof opposite tothe fork 60, said roller maintaining the fork 60 with containersdisposed thereon in a horizontal plane during the vertical movement ofthe carriage from one stage into another.

Additional guides 64 closed in a horizontal plane are arranged in thetreatment stations on the stages 6, 7 and 8, 9, said guides being madeof an antifriction material and constituting a support for the cagesduring their movement.

At the points of the transition of the carriages with the cages from thehorizontal portions 32 and 33 of the conveyor into the vertical portions32a, 33a there are provided means for rotation of the carriages 30 andmaintenance of the fork 60 in a horizontal plane. Each of said meanscomprises a vertical plate 65 attached to the partition wall 2 in such amanner that the lower edge thereof 66 extends below the level of thesupport rollers 62 of the cage in its lowermost position, while theupper edge 67 is provided with a horizontal guide member 68 comprisingan angle bar which extends above the level of the cage support rollers62 in the up permost position of the cage. The plate (FIG. 1) is cut bya vertical slot 69 which is extended in the lower part thereof by twohorizontal slots 70 and 71, one of which, 71, extends at a level of thepin 58 of the carriage 30, while the other slot 71 extends at a level ofthe guide rollers 63 of the cage in its lowermost position.

The slots 69, 70 and 71 constitute guides for the roller 63 and the pin58 and follow their path of movement in a vertical plane. The plate 65support the rollers 62 during the vertical movement of the cage from onestage into another.

At the point of the transition of the conveyor 16 from the stage 9 intothe stage 6 there is provided container removal means, comprising ahorizontal shaft 73 journalled in mounting brackets 74 and telescopicrods 75 displaceable along the shaft 73 and spaced at a distance D fromeach other to pass the fork therebetween. Telescopic construction of therods 75 enables variations of the length thereof, while the displacementof the rods along the shaft permits to change their mutual arrangementin order to provide for effective removal of containers of any size. Therotation of the shaft 73 is effected manually, while its maintenance ina predetermined position is provided by means of collars 76 braced bymeans of screws 77 and prevented from rotation by means of a spring 78and a lever 79. A limiting switch 80 is mounted adjacent the lever 79,said switch being connected to the electric drive 20 to deenergize thelatter upon substantial deviation of the lever 79 from its normalposition. This may take place when containers are backlogged on the rods75.

In order to ensure normal operation of the conveyor 16 and automatictensioning of the chain 29, as well as to compensate for loosening ofthe chain tension due to an extension thereof, the apparatus is providedwith a tensioning station comprising a shaft 81 (FIG. 8), the pulley 39,a rotatable drum 82 and two guide members 83 and 84 (FIG. 9), as well astwo spring loaded screw tensioning couples (FIG. 8) fixed to said shaft.The tensioning station is attached to the partition wall 2 (FIG. 9) bymeans of the guide member 83.

In order to provide for utilization of hot water used for rinsing, thetray 3 (FIG. 3) of the stage 8 is provided with a socket pipe 86connected to the bath 26 for circulating water, the bath 26 beingarranged in close vicinity of the bath 25 for second circulation waterto enable the overflowing of water from the bath 26 into the bath 25. Inthis embodiment water is gradually removed from the bath 25 in an amountcorresponding to the amount of water inflowing from the bath 26.

The housing 1 of the apparatus (FIG. 10) in places, where the treatmentstations are arranged, is made with its walls inclined to the internalspace and is further provided with inspection windows 87 closed by meansof covers 88 made of a transparent material. At the point, wherecontainer removal means 72 is arranged, the housing 1 is provided with arotatable flap 89 adapted to close the loading window. Upon rotation ofthe flap 89 it may be used as working table for temporary accommodationof containers thereon.

The apparatus for washing containers operates as follows.

Prior to the beginning of the operation the bath 27 for a detergentliquid (FIG. 3), the bath 27 for circulating water, the bath 25 forsecond circulation water are filled up with hot water. A detergent ispoured into a tank 90 for a concentrated liquid which is disposed in thestage 4 for automatic metered supply of the bath 27 with a detergent. Inaddition, prior to the filling up of the bath 27 with water a detergenthaving necessary concentration is added into the bath. Then heatingmeans 91 are energized (a temperature and a predetermined level ofliquids in the baths are automatically maintained by known methods).Upon the achievement of a predetermined temperature of liquids in thebaths 25, 26, 27, a throttle valve is open, and a predetermined batch ofa detergent from the tank 90 is automatically supplied into the bath 27.The pump units 23 and 24 for a detergent liquid are energized togetherwith the pump unit 21 for second circulation water and the pump unit 22for circulating water, and a valve for fresh hot water supply toinjector means 12 is also open. Then a valve 92 for steam supply throughthe nozzles 13 is actuated, and fans are energized to supply hot airthrough the nozzles 14 to blow droplet moisture off containers. The airis heated by means of an air heater.

Further the electric drive 20 (FIG. 4) is energized, which rotates viabevel gears 35 the shaft 34 with the driving sprocket 36 to transmitmoving force to the driving chain 29. The latter moves the carriage 30along the guide 31 by means of the driving arm 56 (FIG.

Containers are laid on the rods 61 of the fork 60 with their bottomupside down as the forks are moving to the loading window.

The containers accommodated on the forks 60 are supplied into thetreatment station for soaking off of containers arranged in the stage 6(FIG. 3), wherein containers are soaked off with warm second circulationwater supplied through injector means and collected on the tray 3,wherefrom this water is returned into the bath 25 through the conduit28. At the output of the stage 6 the carriages 30 (FIG. 4) supportingthe cages with containers are turned around along the guide 31 inhorizontal plane and pass into the stage 7 (FIG. 2) into the station ofcontainers treatment with a detergent liquid supplied through injectormeans 11 (FIG. 3). During the rotation in horizontal plane the forks 60(FIG. 4) are supported by means of the rollers 62 on the collar rim 38of the drum 37, thereby substantially reducing the friction between thefork 60 and the guide member 64.

The stage 7 (FIG. 3) accommodates injector means 11 of the two pumpunits 33 and 24, the simultaneous use of these two pump units beingnecessary where heavily contaminated containers are treated in theapparatus.

Upon treatment of containers a detergent liquid from the tray 3 isreturned into the bath 27 through filters. The tank 90 ensurescontinuous metered supply of the bath 27 with a concentrated detergent.Upon treatment containers are moved along the vertical portion 32a ofthe conveyor 16 (FIG. 4) and enter the stage 8 (FIG. 8). During thetransition from the horizontal run 32 of the conveyor 16 (FIG. 4) intothe vertical portion 32a the pin 58 of the carriage 30 is engaged intothe slot 70 of the plate 65, while the guide roller 63 of the fork 60enters into the slot 71. The carriage 30 is rotated at 180 at the momentof the transition from the horizontal portion to the vertical one, whilethe cage with the fork 60 supporting containers is maintained in ahorizontal plane due to the fact that the pin 58 of the carriage 30 andthe guide roller 63 are engaging into the vertical slot 69 of the plate65, while the support rollers 62 are running along the surface of thisplate.

During the transition from the vertical portion 32a into the horizontalportion 33 of the conveyor 16 the cage with the fork 60 supportingcontainers is also maintained in a horizontal plane due to the fact thatthe support rollers are running along the horizontal guide member 68attached to the plate 65.

In the stage 8 (FIG. 3) containers are treated with circulating waterand are rinsed with fresh hot water to wash off the remaining detergentliquid from containers by injector means and to effect final rinsing ofcontainers with fresh water, the consumption of fresh water being small,since all pump units operate according to circulation pattern. Sincefresh water is supplied into the apparatus for rinsing containers, thiswater, to gether with circulating water from injector means 12, isreturned into the bath 26 from the tray 3 through the socket pipe 86.

With reference to the flow diagram shown in FIG. 3, it will be apparentthat water from the bath 26 is supplied through the pump unit 22 forrinsing containers through injector means 12, and this water is returnedinto the bath 26, but in larger volume increased by that amount of freshwater which was used for final rinsing of containers.

Due to continuous supply of fresh water into the bath 26 there areprovided conditions for recovery of contaminated water in this bath.

A part of water from the bath 26 which is equal to an amount of watersupplied for rinsing flows into the bath 25 for second circulationwater. Therefore, also in the bath 25 there are provided conditions forrecovery of contaminated water used for soaking off, that is waterutilization is achieved.

At the output of the stage 8 the cages supporting containers are turnedin a horizontal plane around the partition wall 2 and are directedtowards the stage 9, where containers are treated with steam suppliedthrough the nozzles 13, hot air supplied through the nozzles 14 and bymeans of electric radiant lamps 15.

Upon this treatment the cages supporting containers are moved from thehorizontal portion 33 (FIG. 4) into the vertical portion 33a towards thestage 6.

During the transition form the horizontal portion of the conveyor intothe vertical one the support rollers 62 of the cage are running alongthe guide member 68 of the plate 65, while the guide roller 63 and thepin 58 are moving along the vertical slot 69 thereby maintaining thefork supporting containers in a horizontal plane preventing them frombeing oscillated and rotated.

During the lowering of the cage the branches of the fork 60 pass freelybetween the rods of container removal means 72 thus abandoningcontainers on these rods 75. Containers slide down along the rods 75 onthe receiving table or onto any other means for storing and transportingclean containers.

Therefore, the apparatus according to the invention performs the wholetechnological complex of operations of treatment of containers whilehaving small dimenslons.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for washing containers, comprising: a housing; avertical partition wall arranged within said housing to divide theinternal space of the housing into two longitudinally extendingportions; trays arranged along the height of each of said portions todivide them into stages; the upper of said stages constituting treatmentstations; baths for a detergent liquid accommodated in one of the lowerstages; baths for circulating water accommodated in said lower stage;pump systems to supply a detergent liquid from said baths for adetergent liquid and for circulating water accommodated in another ofsaid lower stages; injector means to supply a detergent liquidaccommodated in one of said upper stages and connected by means ofconduits to said pump system for a detergent liquid supply; injectormeans to supply circulating water accommodated in another of said upperstages and connected to said pump system for circulating water supply;injector means to supply hot water connected to a pump for hot watersupply and accommodated in the third of said upper stages; air supplymeans accommodated in the ultimate of said upper stages; a conveyorclosed in space and adapted to transfer containers through all saidtreatment stations accommodated in said upper stages; said conveyorcomprising driving means, carriages to support carriers for containers,and a guide along which said carriages are moved; said guide and saiddriving means of said conveyor extending through all said treatmentstations moving around said partition wall in a horizontal plane andvertically from one of said stages into another.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said carriage comprises abracket and four pulleys having elongated hubs, the axes of said pulleysbeing journaled in the bracket, the three of said pulleys each havingone collar rim and being arranged in one line, while the fourth pulleyhaving two collar rims and being spaced from the line of the threepulleys at a distance which is equal to a height of the guide, theintermediate pulley of the three pulleys having a hub diameter which issmaller than that of the hubs of the two extreme pulleys and beingarranged in such a manner that the collar rim thereof runs along theinner side of the guide, while the collar rims of the two extremepulleys are running along the outer side of the guide.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the collar rims runningalong the inner side of the guide are tapered towards their externaledge.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the carriage whichreceives the motion from said driving means is connected thereto bymeans of a driving arm and to the carrier for containers by means of apin extending through a hole in the driving arm, and fixed to thecarriage bracket.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said carrier forcontainers comprises a cantilever cage comprising an arm hingedlymounted on the carriage pin and a horizontal fork mounted on said armand adapted to accommodate containers, the branches of said forksupporting vertical rods and support rollers, while a guide roller ismounted on said arm at the end thereof opposite to the fork.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein at places of the verticaltransition of said carriages from one stage into another there areprovided means for maintaining cages in a horizontal plane, each of saidmeans comprising a vertical plate attached to the vertical partitionwall so that the lower edge of the plate extends below the level of thesupport rollers of the cage in its lowermost position, while the upperedge provided with a horizontal guide member extends above the level ofthe support rollers of the cage in its upper most position, said platebeing cut by a vertical slot extended in its lower part by twohorizontal slots extending at levels of the carriage pin and supportroller of the cage in its lowermost position respectively.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the treatment stations areprovided with additional guides made of an antifriction material andadapted to support the cages during their movement in a horizontalplane.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the trays isprovided with a socket pipe connected via a conduit to the bath forcirculating water, said bath being arranged in immediate vicinity of theother bath for circulating water to enable the overflowing of water fromthe first bath into the second one.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at the point of thetransition of the carriages with carriers for containers from an upperstage into a lower one there is provided container removal meanscomprising a horizontal shaft journalled in mounting brackets andtelescopic rods mounted on said shaft and movable therealong, said rodsbeing spaced from one another to pass the fork therebetween.

1. An apparatus for washing containers, comprising: a housing; avertical partition wall arranged within said housing to divide theinternal space of the housing into two longitudinally extendingportions; trays arranged along the height of each of said portions todivide them into stages; the upper of said stages constituting treatmentstations; baths for a detergent liquid accommodated in one of the lowerstages; baths for circulating water accommodated in said lower stage;pump systems to supply a detergent liquid from said baths for adetergent liquid and for circulating water accommodated in another ofsaid lower stages; injector means to supply a detergent liquidaccommodated in one of said upper stages and connected by means ofconduits to said pump system for a detergent liquid supply; injectormeans to supply circulating water accommodated in another of said upperstages and connected to said pump system for circulating water supply;injector means to supply hot water connected to a pump for hot watersupply and accommodated in the third of said upper stages; air supplymeans accommodated in the ultimate of said upper stages; a conveyorclosed in space and adapted to transfer containers through all saidtreatment stations accommodated in said upper stages; said conveyorcomprising driving means, carriages to support carriers for containers,and a guide along which said carriages are moved; said guide and saiddriving means of said conveyor extending through all said treatmentstations moving around said partition wall in a horizontal plane andvertically from one of said stages into another.
 2. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said carriage comprises a bracket and fourpulleys having elongated hubs, the axes of said pulleys being journaledin the bracket, the three of said pulleys each having one collar rim andbeing arranged in one line, while the fourth pulley having two collarrims and being spaced from the line of the three pulleys at a distancewhich is equal to a height of the guide, the intermediate pulley of thethree pulleys having a hub diameter which is smaller than that of thehubs of the two extreme pulleys and being arranged in such a manner thatthe collar rim thereof runs along the inner side of the guide, while thecollar rims of the two extreme pulleys are running along the outer sideof the guide.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the collarrims running along the inner side of the guide are tapered towards theirexternal edge.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein thecarriage which receives the motion from said driving means is connectedthereto by means of a driving arm and to the carrier for containers bymeans of a pin extending through a hole in the driving arm, and fixed tothe carriage bracket.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein saidcarrier for containers comprises a cantilever cage comprising an armhingedly mounted on the carriage pin and a horizontal fork mounted onsaid arm and adapted to accommodate containers, the bRanches of saidfork supporting vertical rods and support rollers, while a guide rolleris mounted on said arm at the end thereof opposite to the fork.
 6. Anapparatus according to claim 5, wherein at places of the verticaltransition of said carriages from one stage into another there areprovided means for maintaining cages in a horizontal plane, each of saidmeans comprising a vertical plate attached to the vertical partitionwall so that the lower edge of the plate extends below the level of thesupport rollers of the cage in its lowermost position, while the upperedge provided with a horizontal guide member extends above the level ofthe support rollers of the cage in its uppermost position, said platebeing cut by a vertical slot extended in its lower part by twohorizontal slots extending at levels of the carriage pin and supportroller of the cage in its lowermost position respectively.
 7. Anapparatus according to claim 5, wherein the treatment stations areprovided with additional guides made of an antifriction material andadapted to support the cages during their movement in a horizontalplane.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the trays isprovided with a socket pipe connected via a conduit to the bath forcirculating water, said bath being arranged in immediate vicinity of theother bath for circulating water to enable the overflowing of water fromthe first bath into the second one.
 9. An apparatus according to claim1, wherein at the point of the transition of the carriages with carriersfor containers from an upper stage into a lower one there is providedcontainer removal means comprising a horizontal shaft journalled inmounting brackets and telescopic rods mounted on said shaft and movabletherealong, said rods being spaced from one another to pass the forktherebetween.